Thiago Silva: "Brazil Has a Bright Future"

New Meadowlands Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ (August 10, 2010)—"Brazil has a bright future," said Thiago Silva in an exclusive interview with LatinoTop10.com and BleacherReport.com immediately after Brazil's impressive 2-0 victory against the United States last Tuesday, Aug. 10 in New Jersey.

Brazil won the game with a young team made up of up-and-coming talent with little experience in the senior team.

"We have great young players that despite the great responsibility played well," added the AC Milan star defender. "Another phase is beginning and has started well, and I hope it stays that way with every step the national team takes."

About the new coach of “Verde-Amarela,” Thiago said, "(Mano Menezes) has changed the way we play. He called up players like Neymar, who like to play with happiness and flair. Players that are always going up front and are constantly on attack mode like Robinho. They came in and jelled well. It’s important to note the personalities that have joined the team."

LatinoTop10.com and BleacherReport.com was also able to talk exclusively with Alexandre Pato, Silva’s teammate with AC Milan and author of the second goal against the United States. Concerning the goal scored and his strong performance, Pato said: "I'm a happy man. It was a great game. Now I will focus on playing well with Milan so that I get called up regularly with the national team."

About his excellent understanding on the field with players like Ganso, Robinho, and Neymar, the Milan striker added: "They are very strong players. Now we have to concentrate on playing well with our respective clubs so that we can be called back and play together in the national team."

FC Barcelona midfielder Dani Alves also spoke exclusively with LatinoTop10.com and BleacherReport.com. Alves praised the young stars of the team: "Despite being young, these are experienced players with tremendous nerve. I hope this continues. With humility, and a sense of urgency in trying to make history with the Brazilian national team. Here in the Brazilian national team, only winners are remembered."

Thiago Emiliano da Silva, only 25 years old, is part of the new generation of Brazilian soccer stars who promise to shine at the 2014 World Cup to be held in Brazil. This group also includes "Os Meninos de Vila" (The Village Kids), André, Ganso, and Neymar, all of Brazil's Santos FC.

Neymar, only 18 years old, scored the first goal against Team USA and was dangerous every minute he was on the field.

Paulo Henrique Ganso, only 21, was masterful in his performance and demonstrated that he has what it takes to become Brazil’s next great playmaker. Ganso’s deft, precise, and penetrating passes created numerous offensive opportunities and enabled Brazil to move the ball with ease and elegance.

The Mano Menezes era started with a bang.

Game notes

- The game was played with the new Nike Total 90 Tracer ball. The Total 90 Tracer will also debut later this month in the English Premier League, Italy’s Serie A, and Spain’s La Liga. In a two-year testing process, Nike worked closely with the leagues and with the national teams of Portugal and the United States.

- LatinoTop10.com and BleacherReport.com interviewed former MetroStars and U.S. National Team midfielder Tab Ramos. He said that Preki deserved his recent induction into the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame and spoke about the youth soccer clinics he has been organizing in the New York-New Jersey area with the support of Pepsi Max. The clinics benefit players between the ages of 10 to 17 and were held in Flushing, N.Y. and Jersey City, N.J. earlier this year.